Volunteering to Help Devon’s Communities Get Active

Volunteers are key in helping Devon’s communities get active and we want them to be recognised and rewarded. Plus, have a great volunteering experience by enjoying the many benefits volunteering can bring.

We also want to support our physical activity provider partners to develop an inclusive and diverse volunteering workforce. This includes harnessing the power of those with lived experience to support others and building a volunteer base that meets local needs and reflects the communities it’s serving.

The Many Benefits to Volunteering

Just like we want everyone in Devon to enjoy the benefits of an active life, we want volunteers to enjoy the many benefits of supporting others to move more.

Sport England, working with a range of expert partners have discovered powerful evidence on the positive impact of volunteering. The evidence shows that giving your time can improve your health, reduce stress, build confidence and improve your skills. Volunteering can also provide opportunities for social connection, physical activity and giving to others. So, all of this can be a great way to support your five ways to wellbeing.

The Active Devon Volunteer Awards

The Active Devon Volunteer Awards recognise inspirational people across Devon who volunteer their time helping others to be active. Since launched in 2022, this has become an annual event and nominations are open between June and September each year.

The awards offer a chance to say thank you to someone who goes the extra mile. This might be a coach or an activity group leader. Or maybe a club committee member or a charity group activity organiser. Whatever their role, they will have made a difference to local people; providing opportunities to move more for better health and wellbeing.

Winners for the Active Devon Volunteer Awards will each receive an award and a celebration with their group or team, as well as the chance to showcase the brilliant work they do.  Every volunteer nominated in the awards will also receive a certificate of recognition from Active Devon.

To find out more click on the buttons below.

Become a Volunteer

Would you like to enjoy the many benefits that volunteering can bring? Would you like to give something back to your local community by helping others to move more?

There are many volunteering opportunities all over Devon. These range from coaching and activity delivery roles to support around promotion, social media and committee roles. If you only have an hour or two a month to spare, there’s also increasing ‘micro volunteering’ opportunities.

Devon Connect is an online community hub. It’s for residents and communities across Devon (currently not including Plymouth) to make connections, share knowledge and resources and provide comprehensive what’s on listings. This includes volunteering opportunities posted by local groups and organisations. To find out more go to Devon Connect’s Volunteering Opportunities page.

If you would like to volunteer your time to help others in your community to be more active but unsure what activity organisations exist in your area, please contact your local Active Devon community-based lead. These are our community-based team members that help and advise local groups who help people to get active.

Opportunities for Young Volunteers

We know from our Volunteer Awards, the impact that young volunteers can have in supporting physical activity sessions and supporting and inspiring their peers to get active.

We have partnered with SLQ Sports Leaders to offer a certificated award at no cost to young individuals or delivering organisations across Devon.

The free Activity Volunteer Programme has been designed to offer young people (and adults) a pathway into volunteering. It helps your learners to build essential life skills through six fun, bite size learning sessions. These can be delivered face-to-face, via blended learning or on-demand online content. Participants can track their progress in a personal volunteering skills profile, showcasing their growing abilities. The programme is fully funded by Active Devon, and upon completion, participants receive a certificated award. You can find out more information on our Activity Volunteer Programme page.

“From mid-November 2021 to mid-November 2022. 208,000 adults in Devon did some form of volunteering to support activity*. Without these individuals giving their time, energy, expertise and commitment, many physical activity opportunities that take place in our cities, towns and villages would not happen.”  Tamsin Phelvin – Active Devon’s Volunteer Lead

*Source: The Active Lives Adult Survey November 2021-22 Report.